GENDER GAP IN UPI ADOPTION AND USAGE: A STUDY OF DIGITAL PAYMENT BEHAVIOUR AMONG MEN AND WOMEN IN UTTAR PRADESH

Abstract

 The fast expansion of digital payment systems has transformed India's financial environment, with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) emerging as the leading platform for digital payments. The fact that UPI makes transactions rapid, secure, and cheap makes it a game changer in financial inclusion, he continued. Despite digital payment technologies' increasing popularity, there is still a gender disparity in their usage and access. Digital literacy, smartphone ownership, financial independence, internet access, and cyber security are common issues that women confront. This study looks at how men and women in Uttar Pradesh use and utilise UPI differently. A quantitative research design was used in this study. Four hundred participants, evenly split between males and females, were polled using a standardised questionnaire to provide the main data. For this data analysis, we will be using descriptive statistics, t-tests, chi-square analysis, etc. Male and female consumers are likely to vary significantly in terms of knowledge, use frequency, trust, perceived security, and transaction value. This research adds to our understanding of digital financial inclusion depending on gender and offers policy suggestions to help close the digital payment adoption gap.